Benefit of an MSN?

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 31, 2009

What types of jobs are you interested in long term? Before you pick an MSN program, you have to have a reasonable idea of the types of career paths that interest you. Then you can look at graduate programs with a sense of what you are looking for. Too many people jump into grad school without a sense of what types of careers interest them -- and they end up with degrees that don't meet their needs, and big student loans to pay for them.

Honeybun1206 · Sep 2, 2009

Getting an MSN will give you more pathways to further your career outside of bedside nursing. You also have other career paths with a BSN besides bedside nursing. With a BSN, you may be able to teach ADN students, LVNs, CNAs in an educational setting. A lot of BSN's also get into management/admin with years of experience in bedside nursing/charge nurse experience, becoming nurse managers, etc.

But one thing to consider- A lot of graduate programs require a certain number of hours of clinical nursing experience before acceptance.

Don't despair- An MSN can be really useful if you do want to do something with it long-term. I realize it's sooo difficult right now for new grads to get hired, so you can get an MSN while still job-hunting.

Take a look at the Master's specialties and FNP specialty and think if you would like to try out those career options in the future. If so, MSN isn't a bad idea.

But if you are looking to get into just a bedside nursing job, a newly graduated MSN without clinical job experience is just as qualified as an ADN or BSN without clinical job experience.

Best of luck to you! :typing

Kora0880, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2009

I think best idea is to get some basic skills behind the belt before you go into MSN.....it will also let you chose the right specialty that interests you, just as previously stated, and not waaste time and money on something you may not need indeed....an educated nurse without skills may find herself in a difficult situation...not very marketable...most knowledge is gained on the job..not in the books....plus yes most schools do require certain amount of experience before you start the program. Keep your head high and dont loose hope! Keep on looking!

K

elkpark · Sep 9, 2009

Getting any MSN will require a great deal of time, money, and effort, and most MSNs lock you into a particular career role/path. I agree with the others here that it would be smartest to take some time to become more familiar and experienced with nursing overall and figure out in where you want to go with your nursing career, and then look at what degree/specialization you need to get you there.

I've known a number of people who rushed into grad school just because they wanted to have "a" graduate degree, and then figured out after the fact that they didn't like doing what the degree had prepared them to do. Now they're stuck with a degree (and the student loans to go with it!) and a career track they don't want, and trying to figure out what they do want to do and how to get there. While I believe it's true that "no education is ever wasted," there's also a lot to be said for getting your ducks in a row up front, and making sure you're getting education that you'll want to use over time.